Birth plan - DCDA twins

[kitty1209]

Hi all. I am almost 27 weeks with DCDA twins, due in April. I am looking for some advice as to how you decided what way to deliver your babies. From my first consultant appointment, they said I should be able to go to 37/38 weeks and they would deliver in this period. They have asked if I would like a c section. My thoughts were that I would prefer a vaginal delivery (have had one previously), however I know this is dependant on twin 1 being head down. The hospital have started to talk more about my birth plan and in the next appointment it will be discussed to firm up plans. They have said sometimes the first twin can be delivered vaginally but that the second can then either be born in whatever position they are in, or it may result in an emergency c section (they said they have a 15 minute window for this). This is my worst fear as the trauma of a normal birth, then followed by a section isn’t what I would want. It also makes me wonder what happens to twin 1 if the above scenario plays out. Does my partner stay with twin 1 or come to theatre with me? Part of me now thinks I should opt for the section as maybe I have more control of knowing when they’ll come and how. Any advice on how you decided or your births played out would be really appreciated. Thanks.

I could have written this post myself! Also due April with DCDA twins and have had similar conversations with doctors. I'm basically going to wait and see what happens at the time!

I opted for a vaginal delivery. Twin 2 did flip the wrong way after twin 1 was delivered. There was lots of manipulating him back into position, he wasn't born until 40 mins after his brother and tensions were very high in the delivery room. Forceps came out, talks of rushing to surgery because he was taking too long. When he was born he had irregular breathing and was rushed to scbu where he spent a few days. Not entirely sure it was down to delivery or whether he'd have ended up there anyway.

That being said, if I had my time again would I change my mind and opt for a c section? I'm honestly not sure. My main priority (besides safe delivery of babies, of course!) was being able to care for them and my older child and I was worried that recovering from surgery would be a nightmare.

To answer about baby care, I was on my own giving birth so no partner. When I had to go off with one baby and couldn't take the other they were taken to the midwives station without question

Hello. I also have April-born DCDA twins - boy and girl who will turn 6 this year.

Luckily Twin A (boy) went head-down from about 20 weeks and stayed there, plus otherwise my pregnancy was straightforward, and I was strongly encouraged to go for a vaginal birth (even when I expressed a preference for a C-section over induction if it came down to it).

I went into labour at 36+2, the night before I was due to have my final scan and consultant appointment, at which no doubt I would have had to book in for my induction/C-section, so I never had to make that decision.

However, from my birth a couple of helpful snippets:

1. I opted to have the line for the epidural put in, in case I needed to go for surgery if Twin B didn't reposition well or something else went wrong. She had turned head down by then though, so the risk was low. I didn't use the epidural apart from the rest dose they did to make sure it was working correctly.

2. I also had both my mum and husband at the birth, and had it come to it I think my mum would have stayed with twin 1 and my husband would have come with me (or vice versa, we didn't actually discuss) Is a second birth partner an option?

3. as soon as Twin A was out the midwife literally grabbed my stomach to make sure Twin B stayed in position.

They will do what they can to help make a vaginal birth possible if that's what you prefer. I would ask the midwives etc. to be as honest as possible with you as early as possible if they have any concerns, and ask lots of questions to get all the info you need. For instance, I was informed that based on how it was going they didn't think I was likely to need surgery, but when I asked if I could have the epidural line put in as a precaution anyway, they said absolutely yes.

Hiya! I had my DCDA twins via c-section at 34 weeks due to their placentas failing but it was always planned they would come via the sunroof! I'd heard too many stories of the first coming vaginally and then the second having to come via c-section.

My birth was idyllic. It was a planned c-section so there was zero stress. Both babies born without any panic. My daughter had to go into intensive care but only because they were prem and she had some fluid on her lungs but other than that it was all good.

If I had to do it again I would 100% opt for a planned c-section. It was painful but bearable after and I had lots of help from my husband and my mum x